like a chipmunk with packed cheeks. Still not great manners, but who cares? This was Little Debbie, after all. “I suppose I could ask him, but do you really think he’d go? It’s a lot to ask for someone to face my family. Maybe he’s putting up with me only because I’m the super cool godmother to your children.”
She eyed the open box of remaining Swiss Rolls. “No, he really does like you. He’s just shy and uh… well....”
Her hesitation put my Spidey senses on guard. I handed her another pack of the snack cakes. “Something wrong with him?”
She waved off the second treat, even though I knew she wanted it. “No, nothing is wrong with him.” She sighed and propped a round hip on my desk. “It’s not a secret, per se, but he’s kinda sensitive about it. Owen has a speech problem that didn’t get fixed when he was younger. You might have noticed he communicates more in words, not sentences? Sometimes reversing sounds? The occasional stammer? He’s an extremely intelligent man, he just has a speaking issue with some people.”
I blinked. “Me in particular?”
“Not you in particular. He used to have that problem with me and the kids until he got to know us. I think once he gets relaxed and in a comfortable situation, the speech problem goes away or at least doesn’t happen as much.”
I swallowed the last of the cake and licked the chocolate scraps from the cardboard. “Well, he’s been talking to me in complete sentences for some time now.”
Surprise showed on Bevvie’s face. “He’s been talking to you?”
“Yes, and with a fair amount of articulation. Whole sentences and everything.” I gave in and opened another package of sugary bliss and handed one of the two rolls to a drooling Bevvie. It’s not so bad if we split a package. Right? “We teachers are trained on how to work with anyone. Speech problem? Puh. I noticed a few odd words, but there’s nothing off-putting about it. Certainly nothing hard to handle.”
She bit off the end of the roll. “I’m glad you two are getting along. He’s a hard nut to crack, but he will eventually. I hope you do take him with you this weekend. You’ll never find another man to have your back like a MacAteer man. I swear it’s in their DNA.”
“Ewww, gross, Mom!” Abby walked into my classroom in a long skirt and T-shirt that sported a giant tie-dyed peace symbol. “Do you realize how many chemicals and toxins are in that thing?”
Bevvie popped the rest of the cake in her mouth and chewed with overzealous relish. “Yes, and they’re sooooo yummylicious!”
“Ugh! You’re eating poison.”
“Says the girl with a secret stash of Twinkies under her bed.”
“Mom!”
“Don’t deny it. I found the wrappers in the trash.”
“Those aren’t mine…, they’re… um… they’re Jake’s, and he’s just hiding them from Mattie.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.”
“MOM!”
I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it. This family was the best thing to ever happen to me. They meant the world. “I love you, Abby-pie. Don’t ever change.”
I turned to Bevvie and tossed the second wrapper into the trash. “I’ll text Owen tonight and ask if he’ll go with me this weekend. You’re right. I’ll probably need the backup.”
This would be more than hanging with the family at a festival or sitting with the kids. This would be a date with Owen MacAteer. I liked the idea. I liked it a lot.
“Miss Miser? A word, if you please.”
Ugh, nothing like seeing your boss, all stern and serious, standing in your doorway. Beverly took her cue from the foreboding face of Mr. Bradshaw the troll. “I’ll talk to you later. Let’s go home, Abby-pie.”
“Mom, I said not to call me that anymore. I’m Starglow now.”
I nearly burst into laughter as Bevvie muttered, “Trolls and spacey teenagers, God help me,” as she passed me on her way out. If it wasn’t for the frowning hound dog face of my principal, I think I would have enjoyed the moment more.
“Yes, Mr. Bradshaw, what can I do for you?”
“I received some very disturbing news this morning.”
The budget for the math team has been cut. The school bus routes have been changed. The grocery store ran out of bran cereal. Different scenarios crowded my mind.
“I received your request for parental leave for next semester.”
The back of my head buzzed. I could already tell where this conversation would go. Nonetheless, I played it off. “Is that all? Gosh, Mr. Bradshaw, I thought something terrible